Daisy Cobden

In Memory of my Dad

My Mom and I walk for my Dad, Michael Cobden, he passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2017. It's a very special annual tradition for our family. It’s a way for us to celebrate him with our family and friends, and with the community as well.

You don't know what’s out there until you're in that situation, you don't know there's that support system until you need it.

What inspired me to join the walk? We thought it was a wonderful way to walk in memory of him- we knew that he loved walking and that he would really appreciate that. We found out about this before my Dad passed away and I asked him what the team name should be. My Dad was a professor, so he had lots of wonderful wisdom, words and guidance. So I wanted his inspiration for a team name. We were trying to brainstorm, I remember we were at the kitchen table and he said ‘Daisy's Team!’. Even though I wanted a fancier name, that was his choice.

Light the Night means a lot to me and my Mom. It's a support system and also to know that we're not alone in fighting blood cancer. We're in this together with the community. It brings our family and friends together for one night, it's a special night in memory of him.

The people on our team are close family and friends - my parents’ best friends, their close circle of friends, their book club, whoever was touched by them and who loved them. My friends have joined as well, my partner and my friends in the community, and even sometimes my Dad's students who knew him through school.

My favourite part is seeing everyone together that night. I look forward to seeing those faces and to see the whole Halifax community walk down the street in the dark with all the different lanterns and their different meanings. To see other survivors and their families struggling, and also to bring everyone together, it's a very very special night.

I'd encourage anyone to join! I think it would be a very powerful way to see the community and to support health care workers. It’s a way to grieve and a way to celebrate at the same time.